Finally after months of teasing, Truvativ releases the true identity of HammerSchmidt. We can put an end to all the rumors and speculations that have been inundating various MTB forums. Adios front derailleur, hello HammerSchmidt!
EDITED: Added Q Factor Info
History
This project started almost two and a half years ago after noticing that many riders were using 2 x 9 setups on their bikes. The goal was to deliver a reliable crankset that used one single ring, but offered the gear range of a double ring setup. After many discussions with riders and frame makers, Truvativ’s HammerSchmidt was born. A revolutionary front transmission system that replaces your front derailleur and chain retention system while still giving you the gear range of a dual ring setup.
Features
Truvativ’s HammerSchmidt is offered in two version – Freeride and All Montain. Both flavors share the same five main components:
FreerideAll MountainBottom Bracket:
• compatible with 68, 73 and 83mm BB shells
• All Mountain version uses a 15mm crankbolt
• Freeride version uses a 12 mm crankbolt.
Crank Arm:
• All Mountain available in 170 and 175 in Galvanized Silver
• Freeride available in 165, 170 and 175 in Tungsten Gray
FR vs AM crank armsCollar Assembly:
• HammerSchmidt’s Collar actuates the sun gear
• Will only work on frames that have ISCG 03 or ISCG 05 Tabs
• It’s vital that the ISCG tabs and BB interface are perfectly faced and perpendicular. There will be a specific HammerSchmidt ISCG facing tool.
Mechanism Assembly:
• This is the heart of the HammerSchmidt transmission system.
• 22/36 or 24/38 gear range.
• 1: 1 or Overdrive ranges. 1:1 means the chainring does one full revolution with every pedal stroke. Overdrive is approximately 1:1.6.
• All Mountain bashguard is made of Carbon while the Freeride is made of a special ultra-durable plastic.
Trigger:
• HammerSchmidt triggers look just like the current X.0 and X.9 offering but they are specific to the HammerSchmidt. Easily recognizable by the anvil etched on the lever.
• Actuation is reversed when compared to traditional FD shifting.
HammerSchmidt Trigger Shifter
Advantages
• Superior Ground Clearance when compared to a traditional two or three ring setup. This will allow you to clear more obstacles on the trail.
Clearance with 3 ring setupHammerSchmidt clearance• Seamless Shifting under load.
• Instant Shifting even while coasting or pedaling backwards. The HammerSchmidt doesn’t depend on pedaling to shift.
• Ultimate Chain Management with one single ring and a constant chainline. Makes it much easier to use the full range of gears in the back. The chain is encapsulated between the collar assembly, Mechanism assembly and top chainguide slider, so it’s not going anywhere.
• Streamlined design that looks pretty clean and fast.
• Simple and low maintenance with only a few parts to lubricate.
• Granted you have ISCG tabs, this system allows you to run two gears up front on bikes that otherwise can’t accommodate a front derailleur.
Installation
If you want to use the HammerSchmidt, your bike will need ISCG 03 or ISCG 05 tabs. ISCG adaptors will not work. This means this system is not compatible with many top end bikes, but Truvativ reassured us that they are working closely with many of these manufacturers to have them incorporate ISCG table on their frames so they are ready to adapt to the HammerSchmidt. In addition, your BB and ISCG tabs both need to be faced so they are perfectly perpendicular to each other.
BB and ISCG facing toolsThe HammerSchmidt uses a proprietary Bottom Bracket – therefore other Truvativ Bottom Brackets won’t work.
The shift cable is routed down the downtube and feeds into the back of the collar assembly. Otherwise the HammerSchmidt install procedures are the same as your tradition crankset. Pretty straight forward really.
Weight, price and availability
Compared to traditional Truvativ All Mountain and Freeride setups, the HammerSchmidt weigh a bit more. Even more so when compared to other lightweight crankset on the market today.
Expect the HammerSchmidt to cost between $700 and $800 for the Bottom Bracket, Crank arms and Trigger shifter. Available starting December of this year.
Impressions
I recently got to ride the HammerSchmidt down in San Luis Obispo and was pretty impressed at how quickly and efficiently the system shifts. Under load, while coasting, while backpedalling, while standing still – shifting is instantaneous! It’s pretty trippy because with a front derailleur you have to do 1/4 to 1/2 of a pedal stroke before the shift is complete – whereas with the HammerSchmidt the shift happens as soon as you actuate that trigger.
Speaking of trigger, since actuation is reversed compared to your traditional front Trigger sifter, shifting the HammerSchmidt takes some getting used to. Even after an hour on the bike, I was still hitting the wrong trigger. I’m convinced that after a few rides I wouldn’t have to think about it anymore – but I was struggling since front shifting has become second nature for me and I’ve never had to think about what trigger to hit.
The pre-production samples we rode were a bit loud – but from what I’ve been told, the final production models are quieter. Tuvativ had HammerSchidt’s mounted on Turner RFX’s and Scott Ransom’s, two bikes that pedal relatively well in granny gears, but alas we all know that not all bikes pedal well in the granny gear – like my Santa Cruz Nomad for example. I can only assume that on some type of suspension linkages/designs, the HammerSchmidt wouldn’t be efficient.
All this aside, I think Truvativ’s HammerSchmidt has potential. The idea of not having to adjust a front derailleur, never dropping a chain and never missing a front shift due to chain suck is pretty appealing to me. The added weight, reverse shifting (compared to what we have now) and requiring ISCG tabs, not so much. A short ride wasn't enough to really gauge the HammerSchmidt - these are only initial impressions. I will let you be the judge unless I can get more HammerSchmidt ride time in the near future.
Truvativ HammerSchmidt Q Factor provided by Truvativ
Q factor defined as the distance between pedal mounting faces of left and right crankarm, measured in a direction parallel with the BB axis.
• Truvativ HammerSchmidt Freeride is essentially the same as Holz OCT and Blaze, i.e. all Howitzer level crankarms.
• HammerSchmidt All Mountain is 8mm narrower than the Freeride version, and is in the class of Stylo's Q-factor (1 mm wider)
• HammerSchmidt Q-factor is symmetric about the centerline plane of the bicycle frame
Learn more about Truvativ HammerSchmidt
www.magicmechanics.com
HammerSchmidt overview and installation with Anthony Medaglia
Sorry about the funky video thumbnails - not sure what's up with that? but the videos still play fine - enjoy!
Part one
Part two
-Luc "Acadian" Albert
And when calculating the weight gain/loss, didn't account for the weight savings of not needing a chain device of front derailleur did they?
(that goes in favour of the Hammerschmitt i'm guessing).
I want one, but not sure of its effectivesness on my SS, and the price will be the deal breaker. If its around the $500 mark, it'll be worth it. Still better than buying seperates: Crank ($150) + Chain guide ($200 - E13) + Mech ($50) + Shifter ($50) = $500!!!!
so if the price comes in that range (550$) they might be a good investment
Since everyone knows that when something new comes out there are always problems, I don't care if they have been testing it for 2 years still means that there will be problems.
1) Inverted levers
2) Cable must be run along down tube
3) Doesn't offer that much more clearance than a 2 rings + bash setup
4) More chances of problems than the simple old derailleur
5) I doubt many shops will keep spares in stock
6) Noise (I prefer chain slap to that ratchet sound)
7) Price (both initial price and spares price, given you can't just change just the cranks, or derailleur, or rings/bash(???) but have to buy the whole system)
I doubt it will be commercially successful to be honest. At least it might become a valid option in a couple of iterations.
1-I had trouble with this set up, but look at all the different set ups out there and you'll also see that we as riders adapt pretty quickly
2-doesn't have to be under until the very bottom, so it could run along the side of the down tube and be out of the way.
3-I'd say it's a solid inch of clearance and from riding it I can say that it saved me in that department on 2 occasions on one long ride.
4-only time will tell but the pluses that it offers out weigh the downs to me.
5-This will be one of those high end parts that most shops will order in and then you get parts as needed, doesn't look to be a high wear piece to be honest.
6-That ratchet noise only happens back pedaling, in the videos, the guys are holding on to the product, but when riding, it's only back pedaling.
7-Premium products cost more-simple fact.
I hope that helps a bit.
I notice all these prices listed.....I'd hate to see what labour would cost!!I mean the cottage industry counts for some "freebees" but at the standard rate of what...$45 dollars an hour...ouch!
clearance could be better, ive managed to smack the bash ring so hard that the chainring also distorts, i think the crank arms are bent =/
but thats beside the point, its cheap, it works and i dont think anyone NEEDS anything like this unless they want some bragging rights.
lets face it if you go out riding with a bunch of your mates i dont think you will notice your bike performing any better than the others
I imagine a hardtail with a horizontal dropout in the end and a HD chain... and gears (well... 2 but never the less ) would be a bit fun
the price and the fact that , beside the instant shifting , it dosent offer someting more that a 2 ring + bash guard config in front.
a good , lite weight 2 ring setup whit E13 SRS , well adjusted gives pretty much teh same result and is bombproof IMO.
bit heavy tho.One thing id say is the iscg mounts on my bike (a u.s company with a good reputation) are sooo in the wrong place!! ive had to modify my chain guides by extending the mount holes to get the right amount of clockwise rotation for the tension wheel to be in the right place.(above the bottom of the bash gaurd so it doesent hit obsticles)
international standard? yeah right!
i could see that being problem with a system like this
www.facebook.com/pages/Truvativ-Hammerscmidt-Owners-club/252610642271?ref=mf
Shifter HammerSchmidt X.9 2-speed front with clamp $57
Crankset HammerSchmidt All Mountain 170 24T ISCG 05 (22T & ICSG 03 included) $595
Crankset HammerSchmidt All Mountain 175 24T ISCG 05 (22T & ICSG 03 included) $595
Crankset HammerSchmidt Freeride 165 24T ISCG 05 (22T & ICSG 03 included) $650
Crankset HammerSchmidt Freeride 170 24T ISCG 05 (22T & ICSG 03 included) $650
Crankset HammerSchmidt Freeride 175 24T ISCG 05 (22T & ICSG 03 included) $650
Bottom Bracket HammerSchmidt All Mountain 68/73 $55
Bottom Bracket HammerSchmidt All Mountain 83 $55
Bottom Bracket HammerSchmidt Freeride 68/73 $55
Bottom Bracket HammerSchmidt Freeride 83 $55
I ´think it does, it´s from truvativ not from CHIMPANSO ehh Shimano. Saint and Hone both of them broke on my bike these Cranks are dangerous!!!
You get to run a 'Short' cage rear mech. These are less vulnerable to damage and are said to shift better plus the chainline stays the same so no 'crossover' gears. Not sure if you can run a short cage with a double ring and bash?
One part that concerns me however is the friction loss:
MBR: "In the field test, we noticed considerable friction losses in overdrive mode. How high are the compared with a derailleur?"
Product Manager Brian Bos: "Losses are integral to the system - I can't argue that they don't exist. We haven't yet carried out a precise 1:1 comparison with a derailleur. Howerver we'll have to consider doing this. Depending on how well maintained they are deraileurs have a greater or lesser degree of friction loss. Also it's important to note that our testing shows that efficiency actually increases as the product ages."
They've been developing a friction prone product like a planetary gearing system for two years and they haven't compared the efficiency with a derailleur? Surely it can't be that bad though as the magazine didn't pan it for this. I'm not interested in race timing but will it really slow me down on my long rides?
Some other disadvantages Weight: not sure what the hike is over my XTR setup but it's not ultimately important.
Need ISCG tabs on your BB: Got those.
Reverse shifting: Who cares? OK, I suppose if you have several bikes it could get annoying.
They say "Our system is just as well encapsulated as hubs, inner bearings and control sets" if the inner bearings they mean are in ISIS botton brackets then there could be a problem!
It could make an interesting twin speed as has been suggested above, some of the bombproof simplicity of singlespeed but with a proper granny gear too...
For the price it would need an excellent warranty.
An exciting product I would love to test long term. Go on SRAM, send me one.
Gareth.
want it
BTW, will the facing tool work with "parktool" stuff?
Great! But price must fall...
www.schlumpf.ch/antriebe_engl.htm
am a fan of that.jump bike compatible we hope.?